Somerhalder and Reed ‘arguing over baby plans’

Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed are reportedly battling over when to have children.

The Vampire Diaries actor, 36, wed 27-year-old Nikki in April (15) after a brief engagement.

While Ian is apparently keen to get started on making babies straight away, Nikki wants to take things more slowly.

And the pair’s differing opinions on when to have children are said to be causing issues in their relationship.

"Ian has really been pushing Nikki to start a family," a source told Life & Style Weekly magazine. "She feels she's just not ready yet, and that's put a tremendous strain on their marriage."

Nikki has been kept busy in recnet months with her strenuous work schedule. She is currently shooting upcoming film The Highway Is for Gamblers, and has a further three movies due for release later this year and in 2016.

Nikki is also a passionate animal rights activist and is reportedly keen to concentrate on these aspects of her life for now, rather than working on getting pregnant.

"She wants to focus on her work for animal rights causes," the source added. "Ian supports her, but he thinks it's the right time for a baby."

However, while Nikki is putting her foot down, the insider added the actress definitely wants a family at some point in the future – just not right now.

Despite feeling blessed with such a busy work calendar, Nikki fell victim to having so many jobs back in July.

The actress fell ill while at the annual Comic-Con event in San Diego and was rushed to hospital. She apparently had severe issues with her throat, leading her to seek treatment and be ordered to remain at the clinic so doctors could assess her. Eventually they suggested she'd become unwell because she was dehydrated and exhausted, with Nikki reportedly blaming her intense schedule for the issue.

"Nikki said that it was probably because she’s been flying so much for work. She’s been to 20 cities in eight days for work obligations," an insider told New York Daily News' [email protected] column.